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One thing that will enhance their chances down the stretch is the reemergence of Daniel Murphy as a potent offensive force. He was injured and missed the first nine weeks of the season. Then when he did return he was underwhelming, batting .200/.231/.240 for all of June. He then apparently popped a can of spinach because in July he walloped the ball at a .347/.410/.569 pace.

Also, since coming back from nine weeks on the DL, Ryan Zimmerman has finally opened his bat for business. It has been just seven games, but his slashline has been .304/.385/.565 .

The thing with them is that they still have 20 games left against the Cardinals, Cubs, Brewers & Rockies. Historically they haven't done crap against the Cards and lately haven't done crap against the Cubs. The next 2 week stretch for them is huge. If they can finish this Reds series no worse than 2-1, and than win 3 of 4 against Atlanta coming in they'll be in good shape. Then they go play 7 games on the road against the Cubs & Cards, get out of that with a winning record and I think they get to the playoffs, don't and I think they are done.

The thing with them is that they still have 20 games left against the Cardinals, Cubs, Brewers & Rockies. Historically they haven't done crap against the Cards and lately haven't done crap against the Cubs. The next 2 week stretch for them is huge. If they can finish this Reds series no worse than 2-1, and than win 3 of 4 against Atlanta coming in they'll be in good shape. Then they go play 7 games on the road against the Cubs & Cards, get out of that with a winning record and I think they get to the playoffs, don't and I think they are done.

They don't need to win specific games or specific series so much as they need to play excellent ball the rest of the way while hoping that the Phillies and Braves stumble.

Washington is 55-53 with 54 games remaining. To win 90 games they would need to go 36-18, .666 ball. If they do this, then they need the Phillies to do no better than 29-25 (.537) which would leave Philadelphia with 89 wins. Riding their extreme good luck in one run games, the Phillies have still just managed a .555 winning percentage, so a reversal of that luck should plunge them to or below that .537 percentage the rest of the way.

It is far from hopeless, but the change in fortunes needs to start happening now since time is becoming a bigger and bigger factor.

Not even the 1998 Yankees, arguable one of the greatest teams in MLB history when you include regular & postseason didn't even manage a .666 pace the whole season. Will be tough to do for the Nats who outside of a stretch from April 28 to May 30 when they went 22-6 (78.8 winning percentage) have been a sub .500 team the rest of the way. I don't expect them to do anything in the playoffs anyways, so would I be disappointed if they didn't make it?? Probably not.

Not even the 1998 Yankees, arguable one of the greatest teams in MLB history when you include regular & postseason didn't even manage a .666 pace the whole season. Will be tough to do for the Nats who outside of a stretch from April 28 to May 30 when they went 22-6 (78.8 winning percentage) have been a sub .500 team the rest of the way. I don't expect them to do anything in the playoffs anyways, so would I be disappointed if they didn't make it?? Probably not.

The Nats don't need to do it over a whole season.
It's much more likely to occur over a shorter stretch. How many teams win 2 of 3 during a season?

Did what they had to do this week against 2 inferior opponents and went 5-1 in 6 games with Mets & Reds. Monday is an off day, before they start what very well could be the stretch that defines their season: 11 straight games against the Braves (including a double header), Cubs & Cardinals. And than after the Marlins come in after the road trip ends, 2 of the next 3 series are against the Phillies. In this stretch is the last time we’ll have home series against the Braves (1 more in Atlanta after this) or the Phillies (2 more in Philadephia after this stretch). Playoff baseball for the Nats starting early in August?? These are about as much “must win” games you can have in August.

Well, that will all but do it for the 2018 Nationals. Next 7 are against the Cubs & Cardinals and really I hope the Cubs & Cards just bury them (like 1-6 or 0-7) and put them out of their misery once and for all, so I don't have to fret. Constant disappointment.

Well, that will all but do it for the 2018 Nationals. Next 7 are against the Cubs & Cardinals and really I hope the Cubs & Cards just bury them (like 1-6 or 0-7) and put them out of their misery once and for all, so I don't have to fret. Constant disappointment.

You have 1 left with Braves Thursday first.

Nats have been, more or less, within spitting distance of .500 for a few months now.

I'll be surprised if they deviate much going forward-too good to get buried, but IMO not good enough to catch the several horses ahead of them in the stretch drive.

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